Minister says ‘no 2030 EV plan’, NITI Aayog, Industry say all-EV target ‘not viable’, China bans 553 car models over fuel consumption

Win for automakers, no 2030 EV target?

State minister Babul Suprio told Parliament that there was no plan to go all-electric vehicle by 2030. Suprio has spoken months after minister Piyush Goyal promised to give away electric cars for ‘free’ and turn India into an EV-only nation by 2030, and after union transport minister Nitin Gadkari threatened to ‘‘bulldoze’’ automakers into making EVs if they didn’t take the step themselves.

NITI Aayog to make EV policy, others will follow

The government think tank NITI Aayog will make the EV policy and all ministries will follow it – that’s the decision taken by cabinet secy panel. NITI Aayog has suggested green number plates, 3-yr free parking and no toll tax for EVs. The ggovernment think tank alo said an all-EV plan is not viable because of high import bills of lithium batteries, and instead has prescribed a mix of fossil fuels, EVs, hybrids, ethanol and methanol to combat air pollution caused by India’s transport sector.

EVs with a driver: State-backed firm offers EVs on lease

Meanwhile, state-backed firm Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) continues with its EV plan to ‘’aggregate demand’’. EESL installed 90 chargers in government offices in Delhi, before rolling out the first lot of 500 EVs (bought from Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra) by January 15 in the city, Now, it wants to release more EVs in the states: 9,500 EVs in next 6 months in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. The company will give the cars on lease for Rs. 40,000 a month, and with a driver.

EESL’s IPO to fund green projects

EESL also plans to go for an IPO around the start of the next financial year, and plans to raise Rs. 2 billion by selling 20% stake in its ownership.

Merc, Toyota also called India’s EV plan ‘Not Viable’

After Mercedes India’s chief said India’s all-EV plan wasn’t viable and claimed that EVs polluted more than diesels and demanded tax breaks, Toyota officials also slammed India’s all-EV plan as ‘not practical’ and said the consumers should be given “technology agnostic” choices, which would in turn give automakers enough leeway in product development.

China stops production of over 553 car models over emission norms

China continues to push for greener cars and plans to stop the production of 553 passenger vehicle models that have failed to meet fuel consumption standards. The manufacturers affected by the order include FAW-Volkswagen, Beijing Benz Automotive, Chery and Dongfeng Motor Corporation.

Again: Tesla pushes back Model 3 production target

Tesla owner Elon Musk has again slashed the production of Model 3s to 2,500 per week by the end of the first quarter, and delayed its goal of 5,000 Model 3s per week to the end of the second quarter. Being the cheapest of all Teslas, the Model 3 is critical to its long-term success.

California seeks to ban fossil-fueled vehicles by 2040

California plans to ban selling new fossil fuel vehicles in the state by 2040. California sells the maximum number of cars in the US, and if adopted, the law would help the state hit its target of reducing emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050.

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